February 28 - Horseracing is full of hard luck stories, and for trainer Marty Jones, one of his stems from January this year when his charge Compari was expected to win the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita in California. However, the gelding was scratched after he awoke on the day with a cough.

Although a treatment of antibiotics and five days of rest put the gelding to rights, the opportunity to shine in this year's prestigious Sunshine Millions Classic was gone forever. Now a month later, Jones seems cautiously optimistic that Compari will go down well in today's $100,000 Crystal Water Handicap over a mile.

'He missed five days and just walked. I haven't run a horse in five years that I haven't had concerns about,' explained Jones. 'Compari experienced some setbacks regarding a respiratory infection, and he missed training with the weather. But in the last two or three weeks he seems to have returned to his old self.'

However, the 4-year-old gelding will likely face some stiff competition today including 5-year-old gelding Liberian Freighter, who is no stranger to this race after finishing second in last year's race. Renowned for his sheer speed and fondness to set the pace, he may give Compari the biggest run for his money.

Although he was off for eight months, Liberian Freighter returned to racing on February 3 in an allowance sprint, in which he managed to finish fourth. However, many who watched the race said that his 'pressing style' did him no favours in that race, and that he is better suited for the Crystal Water Handicap.

But betting fans are likely to back Compari considering that he has won four of five races and will have champion jockey, Garret Gomez, aboard today. Liberian Freighter meanwhile has chalked up six wins from seventeen career races and will have equally talented jockey, Alex Solis, aboard in the turf race.

Here is a complete list of runners and jockeys for Sunday's $100,000 Crystal Water Handicap at Santa Anita Park in California:

Live Sundays (CA) - A O Solis
Liberian Freighter (CA) - R Bejarano
Kalookan Storm (CA) - J Talamo
Swift Winds (CA) - A Quinonez
Red Sun (CA) - M E Smith
Compari (CA) - G K Gomez
Jack's Wild (CA) - B Blanc
Enriched (CA) - M C Baze